Death metal has always been about pushing boundaries, and Nightmarer is no exception. The band, hailing from Tampa, Florida, is on a mission to create music that is not just oppressive but downright disturbing. With their latest album, Cacophony of Terror, Nightmarer delivers a sonic assault that is anything but easy listening.
Featuring members from various notable metal acts, including Success Will Write Apocalypse Across the Sky and The Ocean, Nightmarer’s sound is a cacophony of influences ranging from black metal to death metal to industrial. Guitarist Simon Hawemann cites bands like Gorguts, Mayhem, and Godflesh as sources of inspiration, shaping the band’s claustrophobic and dense sound.
Listening to Cacophony of Terror may not be a walk in the park, but that’s precisely the point. The album is designed to challenge the listener, to evoke discomfort and unease. Hawemann explains that the band’s goal is to create a dark and oppressive atmosphere that gets under the listener’s skin, without crossing into the realm of unlistenable.
While some may categorize Nightmarer’s sound as tech-death, Hawemann is quick to distance the band from the djent genre, emphasizing their commitment to a more extreme and uncompromising approach. He acknowledges the influence of bands like Meshuggah in shaping his guitar tuning preferences but asserts that Nightmarer is carving its own path in the metal landscape.
The label ‘dissonant death metal’ has been attached to Nightmarer, a description that Hawemann finds fitting. The dissonance in their music serves as a tool to create tension and atmosphere, aiming to elicit intense reactions from listeners. While the band embraces the dissonant tag, they also strive to strike a balance between extremity and accessibility in their compositions.
As for the future, Nightmarer’s immediate priority is hitting the road and bringing their crushing sound to live audiences. With plans for a US tour in the works, the band is eager to unleash the full force of Cacophony of Terror on stage, promising an experience that will be nothing short of shattering.
In a genre where innovation and boundary-pushing are celebrated, Nightmarer stands out as a band unafraid to tread into dark and unsettling territories. With Cacophony of Terror, they have crafted an album that challenges conventions and demands the listener’s full attention, promising a journey through sonic landscapes that are as discomforting as they are captivating.
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